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(No Model.)

T. asonwrlwm. BOILER FOR TREATING RHEA, RAMIB, 82:0.

No. 339,332. V Patented Apr; 6, 1886.

N. PETERS. Phvko-Lilhognphur, washingmn. D. C.

UNTTE STATES PATENT OEETQE.

THEODORE EUGENE scnmrxna, OF ESSONNES, DEPARTMENT OF SElNE-ET- OISE,FRANCE.

BOILER FOR TREATING RHEA, RAMlE, 8L0- :SPECIFICATION forming partof-Letters Patent No. 339,332, dated April 6, 1886.

Application tiled September 2;, 1885. Serial No. 178,062.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE EUGENE SCHJZEFNER, manager of Feray & Oo.sworks, of Essonnes, Department of Seine et Oise,

France, have invented a new and Improved Boiler for Treating Rhea orRainie, Nettles, Pita, Yucca, Pine-Apples, Jute, Ananassa, Spathe,Flax,Hemp, and any Vegetable Fibers, (for which I have obtained LettersPatent of France forfifteen years, dated March 31, 1885; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

The fibers obtained after decorticating, particularly those of the rheaor ramie or any of the others above mentioned, contain a great deal ofgum, which must be removed from them in order to facilitate thesubsequent operations. All the processes hitherto employed for itsremoval are very expensive, as they require a numerous stafi' and occupya deal of time, while the results efi'ected are far from satisfactory.By means of the new boiler, which forms the subject of the presentinven' tion, the question is solved in a very econom- 5 ical and rapidway, as a great part of the manual labor is avoided, with a saving inchemicals and steam. .ln additiomthe fibers being well divided, acomplete and regular scouring of the whole mass in treatment iseffected.

Figure l of the annexed drawings shows the improved boiler in elevation.Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the axis, the basket being showninside, the cover or lid being removed. g The two vats a and b areconcentric, leaving a suitable space between them,which is filled upwith lye or with any suitable chemical preparation. The outer vat, a, isprovided with the taps c and d, for the admission and exit of the steam,which passes through the serpentine pipef, immersed in theliquid andencircling the internal vat, b. The steam makes its exit by the, tap d.It is conveyed to a condenser through the pipe g. The vat a is 5 emptiedby means of the tap h, situated at its lower part. Theinternal vat,b,which is per forated throughout its whole surface, is supported by twoT-shaped iron bars, 7c 70', and supported laterally by the guides Z Z.On its {No model.) Patented in France March 31, 1885.

vertical axis is a vertical tube, 121, perforated in 56 the same manner,in order to allow the liquid to. reach the very center of the fibers tobe treated. The basket 12 (a kind of cage of galvanizediron gauze)comprises five shelves, (more or less, as the case may be,) forming somany bases or bottoms 0 0 0" o 0 supported by an gle'iron standards orother suitable supports.

A layer of the ramie fiber, from which the gum is to be extracted, isplaced on each of these shelves. Inside the basket is an opening toallow of the passage of the tube of the vat b. At the upper part fourbranch supports, p 12 p" 19 are disposed, formi n'g by their junction aring which engages in the hook q of the chain g, which latter passesover a removable pulley, r, with double shell r, the other end of whichbears a traveling roller, 1. This roller moves on the cross-rail s, theends of which are supported by two arms, 3 s, the lateral displacementofwhich is prevented by the fiat iron pieces 8 8', supported by the saidarms. An arch, t, firmly fixed on the vat a, bears two guide-pulleys, tt bearing the chain tflwhich is intended for lifting the cover a bywinding it up on the drum to with crank it.

In order to avoid any explosion, the cover or lid a is provided with asafety-valve, o, and tap '1), which is Opened when the steam-gage oindicates too great a pressure.

By the construction of the nut-screws a; of s the cover perfecttightness is secured.

The plate as is bolted on the external vat, a. The screw :0 pivots on anaxis fixed by two ears'or lugs to the T, and can be drawn down atpleasure. The nut is furnished with two arms to facilitate fastening.

Working: After having conveniently filled the basket-in all itscompartments with ramie or other fibers, the cover is firmly pressed inits seat, and india-rubber, red lead, or any 0 other suitable matter isemployed to make the joint tight. If then steam is admitted through thetap c, the lye in the vat b is heated, producing a sort of inflation ofthe layers of ramie, which allows the lye to soak throughout the mass,and causes a rapid and regular scouring of the mass, and at the sametime separatesthe gum from the fiber. .Vhen the fiber is considered tobe sufficiently scoured, the lye is discharged and a current of hotwater is allowed to pass over the fibers, in order to completely freethem from gum. They are then taken out after having raised the basket,and fresh fibers are put in, and the same operation is reeommenced.

Having now described the construction of the apparatus forming thesubject of my in vention, and the manner in which it works, I claimthemethod herein described of separating the gum from the fibers of rheaor ramie, nettle, pita, yucca, pi ne-apples, jute, ananassa, spathe,flax, hemp, and any other textile fibers by a regular and rapid processof scouring. I claim, also- 1. The combination of two concentric vats,leaving between them a suflicient space to re-

